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Review of The Hobbit 3: Battle of the Five Armies

I thought this movie was great! Even though I was left melancholy at the end, this being the final-final installment from this particular team of this particular story. This is why I thought it entirely appropriate for the film to end very sweetly and softly, rather than with a big bang, because for people like me, we are sad this is truly the end of our adventure into Tolkien’s Middle Earth through this particular lens. And what a ride it’s been!

Not Enough Hobbit in “Hobbit #2

Our only complaint about this film was there was not enough screen time for the hobbit Bilbo. Other than that, we loved every minute of this film. Yes, it’s longer than it needs to be, but those of us who are diehard Tolkien fans simply relish every saturated moment we can get when we can pretend we are actually in Middle Earth.

Dr. Bob’s review of The Hobbit #1: An Unexpected Journey

My favorite intricacies in his version of “The Hobbit” part 1 include the scenes with the lesser-known wizard Radagast the Brown, whose rabbit-pulled sleigh outruns and outsmarts an army of orcs and wargs. I also loved how Jackson worked in a secret council between Galadriel, Saruman, Elrond and Gandalf, which reveals much about the inner workings and hidden motives of all these complex characters. But the best scene I thought was how he depicted Gollum losing the ring. I loved the sensitive and touching scenes between Bilbo and Gollum, and once again praise the characterizations of the talented Andy Serkis for bringing such pathos to a distasteful character. Read the transcript of Andy Serkis’ interview on 21st Century Radio online. The riddle contest in Jackson’s interpretation was particularly enjoyable.

More Tolkien Interviews Coming Soon

About this Tolkien Tapes Series

Dr. Bob Hieronimus has been a completely immersed Tolkien fan since he first read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in the 1960s. His family remembers reading aloud from the books during long car trips. When the first animated versions of the films came out he watched his copies until they broke. Whenever a company released a graphic novel, trading card series, or chess set, he was there, purchasing multiple copies and reviewing them on 21st Century Radio. In 1991-92, Hieronimus & Co. even created a “Frodo Lives! on 21st Century Radio” button, and began to seek out the people connected to Tolkien for interviews celebrating the 100th anniversary of Professor Tolkien’s birth.

Long before Peter Jackson even considered he might be granted the film rights, Dr. Bob Hieronimus was doing his part to keep the legacy of Tolkien alive throughout the 1980s and 90s. On this site we present to you all of the Tolkien-related interviews we have ever done on 21st Century Radio that began in November of 1991 with Austin Olney, a publisher who worked directly with Professor Tolkien in preparing the first American editions of his work for publication. Back then, we were still talking to just the hardcore set, people who published mimeographed newsletters like The Rivendell Times, and hand painted metal figurines. Compared to today’s atmosphere of complete Tolkien immersion for the general public — worldwide — we are so pleased to see the shift has occurred and even non-fans today know what a Hobbit is and why their mission is important. Thank you to Peter Jackson, and Richard and Tania Taylor and their team at WETA for doing what we always wanted to do: you made Tolkien a household name again. Frodo Lives!

We hope you enjoy this exclusive tour through our dusty Tolkien 21st Century Radio archives.